A connected city
Connections
For a city to be successful it needs to be well-connected locally, nationally and internationally. Connections are essential for residents to access work opportunities, education and services, and for businesses to access markets and their customers. It is only through excellent connectivity that the economy can continue to grow, educational standards can increase, and the city can become more equitable and liveable.
Adaptations for the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced society into making immediate and drastic adaptations to the way people live and travel. Our period of recovery will continue to depend on three things:
- making public transport safe to use so that people can remain connected to the economic and cultural life of the city;
- enabling people to actively travel safely and easily; and
- connecting people remotely through digital technology.
Manchester has already joined the growing list of cities around the world to have accelerated plans to make their city centres more people-centred and less reliant on the use of private motor vehicles. A refreshed Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 was adopted in early 2021, along with a five-year delivery plan of infrastructure priorities. This strategic approach has been built upon in Manchester, with the adoption of a refreshed City Centre Transport Strategy in March 2021, which prioritises walking as the main way of moving around the city centre and aims for 90% of morning peak journeys to the city centre to be made by sustainable modes by 2040.
Digital
Manchester is already leading the way to becoming a digital city. It is one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology cities with a strong and resilient digital sector. Ensuring that residents are equipped with the skills and technology to make the most of our rapidly digitising world is of fundamental importance to our future success. Over the past year, this has become increasingly important as the reliance on reliable broadband connections and digital skills has become essential during the lockdown restrictions imposed during the pandemic. In 2020, Manchester developed a Digital Inclusion Action Plan working with stakeholders across the city to reduce digital exclusion.